Big V Property Group signs multiple Barnes & Noble stores in the southeast

Charlotte, NC The recent addition of three Barnes & Noble stores to Big V Property Group’s portfolio is not just evidence of the rebirth of the iconic bookseller, it also is a testament to the two companies’ relationship and the importance of adaptive reuse of existing space, the developer said.

All of the new Barnes & Noble stores — at Alamo Ranch in San Antonio and Southpark Meadows in Austin, both in Texas, and The Shoppes at Woodhill in Columbia, SC — were previously home to other retailers and were reconceived and remodeled to accommodate the retailer’s new, smaller format. Barnes & Noble also has a location at The Avenue Murfreesboro near Nashville in a lease signed prior to Big V Property Group’s acquisition of the center in 2020.

“Watching the reinvention and reinvigoration of Barnes & Noble shows the continued strength of brick-and-mortar retail, and it is now a critical component of our tenant mixes,” said Greg Ix, Executive Vice President of Leasing at Big V Property Group. “Small, independent booksellers are a vital part of retail, but there really is only one Barnes & Noble. We are happy to have leased nearly 75,000 s/f and reinvented rare vacant spaces to accommodate them and look forward to continuing our strong relationship.”

“It’s thrilling to see Barnes & Noble expanding again, with plans to open some 60 new stores nationwide in 2025,” said Julie O’Donnell, Big V Property Group executive director of leasing. “Seeing a legacy brand reinvent themselves to adapt as an experience-led, traffic driver retailer, is exciting for all of our tenants, and Austin, San Antonio and Columbia, S.C. have been a perfect fit for them.”

Barnes & Noble’s 20,004 s/f store replaces an Office Max at Southpark Meadows, home to dining, local, and regional retailers as well as Music Meadows, an outdoor communal area that hosts a variety of events all year long. Other anchors are Walmart, Super Target, Petsmart, Ulta Beauty, Old Navy, JCPenney, Marshalls, Hobby Lobby, Ross, Best Buy and HomeGoods. The center is located on Interstate 35, Austin’s primary North-South thoroughfare.

One of the largest and most prominent open-air centers in San Antonio, Alamo Ranch’s 900,000 s/f are anchored by Best Buy, Dick’s, Ross Dress for Less, Marshalls, Michael’s, Ulta, PetSmart, Super Target, Lowe’s, and JCPenney. Barnes & Noble’s 17,996 square feet also replaces an Office Max at the center, located on 1604, one of the city’s busiest vehicular arteries.

Big V Property Group re-leased a 25,000-square-foot former Bed Bath & Beyond at The Shoppes at Woodhill to Barnes & Noble prior to selling the center in December 2024.

“We’re proud of our flexibility to help major tenants find new locations in thriving markets such as Austin and San Antonio,” said Pat Kelly, vice president of leasing. “But Barnes & Noble deserves serious credit for developing a smaller, community-centric prototype that allows it to take locations of 20,000 square feet or so and serve new markets. It’s a tribute to smart retailing.”

All three stores are now open.